Do you shoot in continous mode for action subject?

Braineack · May 6, 2015

I use AF-C about 95% of the time.

misread: I have my camera in CH mode 99% of the time as well, and will burst off If need be. No reason not to if the situation calls for it.

fjrabon · May 6, 2015

Focus: yes, basically always, combined with back button focusing.

Frame rate: sometimes. But I only burst around the action I want to capture. I don't sit there and fire at max burst rate for more than a second at a time.

Rick50 · May 6, 2015

I think you should read your camera manual. There are differences on how focusing works from camera to camera. I have a Canon 5D3 and some of the comments here sure don't apply to it.
I use AI Servo a lot as the camera will track a moving subject maintaining focus.

imagemaker46 · May 6, 2015

Yes, and use it when I need it.

wfooshee · May 6, 2015

Yeah, the terminology is different between Canon and Nikon. What Canon calls Single shot is what Nikon calls single-servo (AF-S on the LCD) , and what Canon calls AI servo is what Nikon calls Continuous servo (AF-C.)

With either brand the first choice focuses when you half-press the shutter button and doesn't change focus until you release and re-press the button. The second choice focuses continuously while you hold the button down. If you're shooting action and the focus goes away during the sequence, you're probably on single-shot or single-servo.

That doesn't even begin to account for area selection. For action you want to start with a single focus point, so YOU select what the camera starts its focus on. If you have a multi-area, the camera decides, sometimes seemingly at random. It picks the sensor with the best focus, which may not be your subject.

ronlane · May 6, 2015

imagemaker46 said:
Yes, and use it when I need it.

Agreed. I use High speed continuous and use it occasionally. I've used it full out at times just to see and I've used it and take 1 frame to get what I wanted. Most of the time, I will shoot between 2 - 5 shots depending on the sport and the action.

bribrius · May 6, 2015

KmH said:
Do you shoot in continous [sic] mode for action subject?

Click to expand...

Continuous focus mode? Yes.
Burst (continuous) shutter mode. Sometimes.

this

tecboy · May 6, 2015

Rick50 said:
I think you should read your camera manual. There are differences on how focusing works from camera to camera. I have a Canon 5D3 and some of the comments here sure don't apply to it.
I use AI Servo a lot as the camera will track a moving subject maintaining focus.

I don't think you understand. I have to track a very fast moving subject. Last weekend, I was at the Mazda Raceway and standing near the racetrack. These cars going 160 mph. I have to get in focus first before I press all the way down the shutter button. The cars are further away, and when the cars come close to me, I have to give it enough time to autofocus before I shoot. I shoot about 3 frames at a time. Many of the pictures are out of focus.

bribrius · May 6, 2015

tecboy said:
Rick50 said:

I think you should read your camera manual. There are differences on how focusing works from camera to camera. I have a Canon 5D3 and some of the comments here sure don't apply to it.
I use AI Servo a lot as the camera will track a moving subject maintaining focus.

Click to expand...

I don't think you understand. I have to track a very fast moving subject. Last weekend, I was at the Mazda Raceway and standing near the racetrack. These cars going 160 mph. I have to get in focus first before I press all the way down the shutter button. The cars are further away, and when the cars come close to me, I have to give it enough time to autofocus before I shoot. I shoot about 3 frames at a time. Many of the pictures are out of focus.

in nikon it is the 3d focus tracking mode. It works, sort of.

ronlane · May 6, 2015

Tecboy, look at the manual about back button focusing. For me, it makes life a lot easier when shooting fast moving objects.

Vtec44 · May 6, 2015

tecboy said:
I don't think you understand. I have to track a very fast moving subject. Last weekend, I was at the Mazda Raceway and standing near the racetrack. These cars going 160 mph. I have to get in focus first before I press all the way down the shutter button. The cars are further away, and when the cars come close to me, I have to give it enough time to autofocus before I shoot. I shoot about 3 frames at a time. Many of the pictures are out of focus.

Ahh Laguna Seca! I've rode my sportbikes on that track before

You can change the AF-C priority selection to put it on Focus Priority. The camera will only take a shot when the camera it's confirmed that is focus (may not even be on the right subject

). You can also reduce the time where Focus Tracking will lock. It will track fast moving subjects a bit better. Also, back button focus helps a lot since you don't have to hold the shutter 1/2 way down.

vintagesnaps · May 6, 2015

It makes sense to use it for something like motor sports; I shoot hockey and focus manually (that's how I learned) but don't do much panning (but learned how to do that focusing manually too but not motor sports). It doesn't make sense to me to use it constantly, then it seems to just be sprayin' and prayin' (not that I haven't on occasion thanked the hockey 'gods'.)

Vtec44 · May 6, 2015

I use it for ceremony and wedding reception. IMHO, it's the photographer that will decide to spray and praying, not the focus or shooting mode

tecboy · May 6, 2015

Vtec44 said:
tecboy said:

I don't think you understand. I have to track a very fast moving subject. Last weekend, I was at the Mazda Raceway and standing near the racetrack. These cars going 160 mph. I have to get in focus first before I press all the way down the shutter button. The cars are further away, and when the cars come close to me, I have to give it enough time to autofocus before I shoot. I shoot about 3 frames at a time. Many of the pictures are out of focus.

Click to expand...

Ahh Laguna Seca! I've rode my sportbikes on that track before

You can change the AF-C priority selection to put it on Focus Priority. The camera will only take a shot when the camera it's confirmed that is focus (may not even be on the right subject ). You can also reduce the time where Focus Tracking will lock. It will track fast moving subjects a bit better. Also, back button focus helps a lot since you don't have to hold the shutter 1/2 way down.